How Do You Cook Beef Tongue

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Beef tongue is a great value meat that can feed a whole family on the cheap. The low price doesn't mean low quality, either. In fact, its rich flavor made it a luxury item back in less squeamish times.^[1] Learn how to prepare it properly, and this could become the hidden gem in your kitchen.

Ingredients

Basic Beef Tongue:

• 1 small beef tongue (~3 lb / 1.4 kg)
• Peppercorns
• Bay leaf (or other herbs)
• Onion and carrots (or other vegetables)
• Optional: flour or condensed French onion soup, for a thicker sauce

Tacos de Lengua:

• 1 small beef tongue (~3 lb / 1.4 kg)
• Onion, carrots, herbs of your choice
• Lard or oil
• Salsa verde
• Corn tortillas

Tongue with Raisin Sauce:

• 1 beef tongue (~4 lb / 1.8 kg)
• 2 onions
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 stick celery (with leaves), sliced
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons (30mL) butter
• 1/3 cup (80 mL) raisins
• 3 tablespoons (45 mL) almonds, chopped
• 1/3 cup (80 mL) white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/3 cup Madeira wine
• 2/3 cup tongue cooking broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. 1

   Purchase the tongue. Larger tongues can take much longer to cook, so choose the smallest tongue you can find, ideally below 3 pounds / 1.4 kg. Tongue has a short shelf life, so purchase it very fresh or frozen from a reliable butcher. (If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator for maximum safety.)

   • Some tongues include the glands, bones, and fat at the root of the tongue. This area is edible when cooked, but not everyone likes the soft, fatty texture.^[2] You may cut it off at home (before or after cooking), or look for a pre-trimmed "Swiss cut" tongue.^[3]
   • Brined tongue packs extra flavor and can be prepared the same way as fresh tongue.

2. 

   2

   Clean the tongue. Place the tongue in a clean sink and scrub thoroughly under cold running water. Clean until the surface is free of dirt and blood.

   • Many recipes recommend soaking the tongue in cold water for an hour or two, changing the water whenever it becomes murky. Store-bought tongue is usually clean enough to skip this step, but it can freshen up the tongue's flavor.^[4]

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3. 

   3

   Prepare the broth. Fill a large pot with chick or beef stock, or moderately salted water. Add vegetables and herbs of your choice. An onion or two, a couple bay leaves, peppercorns, and a carrot form a good simple base. Feel free to add other ingredients, such as oregano, rosemary, garlic, or chiles. Bring to a boil over high heat.

   • Use a pressure cooker or slow cooker to speed up the process.
   • If you want to create a thicker sauce to serve with the tongue, add four cans of condensed French onion soup.

4. 

   4

   Add the tongue. Add the tongue to the broth and cover the pot. Bring to a boil again, then reduce to a simmer.^[5]

   • Keep the tongue completely submerged. You may need to add more water or weigh it down with a steamer basket.

5. 

   5

   Simmer until tender. The tongue is ready when it turns white and a knife easily pierces the thickest part. This typically takes about 50–60 minutes per pound (0.45 kg) of meat.^[6]

   • Fast cooking or undercooking makes the tongue tough and unpleasant. If you've got the time, err on the side of caution and keep simmering for an extra hour or two.
   • If using a pressure cooker, heat until it starts to steam. Reduce to medium heat and cook for 10–15 minutes per pound (0.45 kg). Let cool until steam releases on its own.

6. 

   6

   Peel the tongue while warm. Transfer the tongue onto a plate with a pair of tongs. Wait until the tongue is just cool enough to touch, then cut through the outer white layer lengthwise with a sharp knife. Peel off this layer with your fingers, cutting when necessary. (This layer is technically edible, but has an unpleasant taste and texture.^[7] )

   • The tongue becomes much harder to peel once cooled. If it's already cooled to room temperature, though, it can help to submerge it in ice water.
   • Save the broth to make a soup or flavor sauces.

7. 

   7

   Cut the meat into ¹⁄₄ inch (0.6 cm) slices. ^[8] Cut diagonal slices with a sharp knife to serve with salsa verde, on a sandwich with brown mustard and greens, or baked for another half hour with roast potatoes. There's plenty of meat there, so consider saving some larger pieces to grill or try with the other recipes below.

   • If the meat is tough, it's undercooked. Return it to the broth and keep simmering.
   • You can easily turn a portion of the sauce into gravy by adding flour.

8. 

   8

   Store leftovers in the fridge. Boiled tongue will keep for about five days in an airtight container in the fridge.^[9]

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1. 

   1

   Clean and simmer the tongue. Tongue needs a long, slow cooking process to become tender. Refer to the simmered recipe above for instructions on cleaning, then simmer in hot, salted water for at least 1 hour per pound of meat (0.45 kg).

   • For extra flavor, add onions, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, and/or your favorite chiles.
   • Check on it every hour or so. You may need to add water to keep the tongue submerged.

2. 2

   Make or purchase salsa verde. You'll have plenty of time to make your own salsa while the beef is cooking. Just combine tomatillos with serrano peppers, diced onion, garlic, cilantro, lime, salt. Blend until combined but slightly thick. (For amounts and extra details, see linked recipe.)

3. 

   3

   Peel and slice the tongue. Once a knife can pierce through the thickest part of the tongue, remove it from the water with kitchen tongs. Once cool enough to handle — but still quite warm — cut through the white outer layer and peel off with your fingers. Slice into rough ½ inch (1.25 cm) slices for your tacos.

4. 

   4

   Fry or grill until crisp. Tongue is a fatty meat, and tastes delicious when it develops a crisp outer layer. Add a generous amount of oil or lard to a pan, about 3 tbsp (45 mL) for six slices, and heat until it shimmers. Add the tongue and fry until brown and crisp on all sides, flipping occasionally.^[10]

   • If you're using a grill instead, brush the slices generously with olive oil and heat on a 425ºF (220ºC) grill for about 10–15 minutes, flipping once.
   • For a healthier options, just brown lightly in a small amount of oil, then simmer in the salsa verde for a few minutes.^[11]

5. 

   5

   Serve in corn tortillas. Set up platters of beef tongue, corn tortillas, and salsa verde for your guests to make their own tacos. You can also add all your favorite taco toppings, such as lime and cilantro.

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1. 

   1

   Clean and simmer the tongue. Clean as described in the basic simmer recipe. Place the tongue in a pot of hot water along with 1 of the onions, 2 carrots, 1 stick celery, and 1 clove garlic. Simmer the tongue for about one hour per pound (0.45 kg), until a knife can pierce the thickest part.

   • Coarsely chop all vegetables, remove leaves from the celery, and crush the garlic.
   • This is similar to the basic simmer preparation described above, which is how most tongue recipes begin. Refer to that method for more detail if you have any questions.

2. 

   2

   Peel the tongue. Remove the tongue with a pair of tongs. Peel off the white layer as soon as the meat is cool enough to touch. While warm, this should come off easily after a few incisions with a sharp knife.

3. 

   3

   Sauté raisins, almonds, and the remaining onion. Melt 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter in a pan. Chop and add the other onion along with ⅓ cup (80mL) raisins and 3 tbsp (45mL) chopped almonds. Heat while stirring occasionally.

4. 

   4

   Add remaining ingredients to the sauté pan. Once the almonds are golden brown, stir in ⅓ cup (80mL) white wine vinegar and 1 tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste. Add ⅓ cup (80mL) Madeira and ⅔ cup (160 mL) broth from the pot with the tongue. Simmer for three minutes to reduce slightly.

5. 

   5

   Slice the tongue and serve with the sauce. Slice the tongue into thin slices and pour the raisin sauce over it. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. 6

   Finished.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Do you peel beef tongue before cooking?

  

  Ed Kuoha is a Chef and the Owner of Kuoha Culinary based in Aiea, Hawaii. He has more than 20 years of experience in various culinary kitchens and settings such as Morimoto Waikiki, where he received hands-on training from Iron Chef Morimoto. Chef Ed specializes in small catering events and private chef requests. He holds an Associate's degree from The Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College.

  

  Yes! Do a light cut into it, just deep enough to cut the first outer layer so you can start to peel it off. Once the outer layer is peeled off the entire tongue you may start your recipe.

• Question

  How do you clean beef tongue before cooking?

  

  Ed Kuoha is a Chef and the Owner of Kuoha Culinary based in Aiea, Hawaii. He has more than 20 years of experience in various culinary kitchens and settings such as Morimoto Waikiki, where he received hands-on training from Iron Chef Morimoto. Chef Ed specializes in small catering events and private chef requests. He holds an Associate's degree from The Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College.

  

  It's simple, actually. Just start a pot of boiling water, put the tongue inside for about a minute then take it out and chill it in ice water.

• Question

  How long does it take to cook beef tongue?

  

  It depends on the size of the tongue but as a general rule cook at low heat for a long time rather than cook quickly at high heat. Tongue has collagen which will toughen the meat if cooked too quickly but will add a wonderful richness if cooked gently. If cooked at a low temperature, allow 55 minutes per pound of tongue. If boiling the tongue, you will know it is done when the skin of the top of the tongue takes on a blistered appearance.

• Question

  Can I grill a beef tongue?

  

  Yes. Boil the tongue first, then the fattier slices can be grilled on a plate or under a broiled until they form a browned skin. If you want to start with the tongue uncooked, slice it lengthwise and sear it at a high heat on an oiled hotplate or broiler to seal the meat, then cook slowly until heated thoroughly.

• Question

  Can I freeze cooked beef tongue?

  

  Yes. It can be cut into thinner slices after it's frozen; this method is mostly used when you want to use it in making tongue sandwiches.

• Question

  Can I cook beef tongue in the oven?

  

  Marinate it with salt and pepper and a bit of oil. Put it in the oven at 450ºF. Cook until done.

• Question

  Can I cook a frozen beef tongue in a slow cooker?

  

  Yes. Add all aromatic herbs and veggies to the bottom, and put the frozen tongue on top. Cook overnight or for seven to eight hours.

• Question

  Can I cook beef tongue in the oven on low heat (250 degrees F)?

  

  Anything cooked at such a low temperature will take a very long time to cook and should be carefully monitored so it does not dry out. If you wish to cook the beef tongue at such a low temperature, slice it several times lengthwise, then place it in a covered pan with your vegetables, herbs and water. Check it at least once an hour and baste the meat and check broth levels. Due to the very low temperatures expect at least three hours of cooking time per pound of meat, if not longer. Adding vegetables to the pan will increase the cook time. Using a crock pot on medium (to get it warm) then leaving it on low is safer and requires less vigilance while still yielding a good result.

• Question

  Can I make soup from the stock left behind in my crockpot?

  

  Yes! It makes the best soup, and you can add it right into the crock pot and keep on cooking. I've made vegetable soup, chicken gumbo, vegetable beef, etc. Use your imagination!

• Question

  Can I serve boiled beef tongue with tartar sauce?

  

  You could. You would be best using any sauce that goes well with beef, as beef tongue has a very pronounced beef flavor.

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Video

• As long as you bought the tongue from a good butcher, all attached parts should be edible. Feel free to cut off anything that feels like gristle or slime, but don't cut off too much good meat in the possible.

• Slices toward the back of the tongue are richer and fattier than the tip.

• The broth can end up with a stronger flavor than you may be used to, due to the rich, fatty tongue. Add to other dishes sparingly.^[12]

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• Many people are turned off by the idea of eating tongue. Slice it in the kitchen instead of serving it in "tongue form."

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Things You'll Need

• Kitchen brush
• Knife or kitchen shears
• Covered pot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker large enough to hold your ingredients
• Kitchen tongs

About This Article

Article Summary X

To cook beef tongue, start by cleaning the tongue in the sink under cold water. Next, make a broth by filling a pot with beef stock and the vegetables of your choice, such as carrots, onions, and bay leaves. Once the stock is boiling, add the tongue and bring the pot to a boil again. Then, turn down the heat and simmer the tongue for 50-60 minutes per pound, or until it turns white. When the tongue is ready, remove it from the pot with tongues and peel away the outer layer, then slice up the meat inside. To find out how to use tongue to make tacos de lingua, read on!

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